Jamesian Philosophy Refreshed

I haven't done this since 2016. I used to work it in fairly often: once a year or more. Scott Adams, of Dilbert comics fame, said that we're in a loop, in which a small number of news stories is endlessly repeated. As if our universe is The Matrix, and its coding economizes by repetition. Making this argument, he listed nine headline you'll find in tomorrow's newspaper.  1. EXTREME WEATHER BATTERS SOMEPLACE 2. IDIOTS KILL INNOCENT PEOPLE 3. POLITICIAN DOES SOMETHING ILLEGAL 4. PRIMATE ATTEMPTS INAPPROPRIATE SEX 5. EXPERTS WARN OF FINANCIAL CALAMITY 6. BIG COMPANY BUYS ANOTHER BIG COMPANY 7. FAMOUS PERSON DOES SOMETHING INTERESTING 8. A SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY MIGHT BE USEFUL IN TEN YEARS 9. GOVERNMENT FAILS TO ACHIEVE A GOAL I'll match these up against real news, trying for some geographical diversity as we go along. 1. A hurricane just hit Bermuda.    2. Idiots who kill?  A lways too easy.   3. Politician does something illegal? Today's example (just for the sake...

  In case you are one of the few to whom the news has not yet come: The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers in overtime, 25 to 22. And yes, Taylor Swift was there. She had taken her private jet to Las Vegas from a concert in Japan. A bit of conversation during a post-game hub was captured by a mike. Her love interest, Travis Kelce, also known as the tight end for the victorious Chiefs, whispered to Swift, "How are you not jet lagged?"  She responded, "Jet lag is a choice." A lot might be said about that cheerful exchange, but I choose not to say it. Instead, I will define Kelce's job title.  A tight end is an offensive player who lines up close to the tackle and is used alternatively for two purposes. Sometimes -- on running plays -- he is a blocker.  At other times he runs a pattern in anticipation of a pass.  The name of the position suggests a distinction between the TE and the WR, or wide receiver, who is too far from the "action in the ...